Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme
CNDH
Summary
The CNDH is Morocco's Paris-Principles A-status NHRI, restructured by Dahir 1-11-19 of 1 March 2011 implementing Article 161 of the 2011 Constitution. In 2014 Morocco designated the CNDH as its OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism, authorising its Mécanisme National de Prévention (MNP) to conduct unannounced visits to police stations (DGSN custody), Royal Gendarmerie brigades, prisons under the Délégation Générale à l'Administration Pénitentiaire et à la Réinsertion (DGAPR), and all other places of deprivation of liberty. Members are appointed by Royal Decree from civil society, academia, and legal fields — no sworn law-enforcement officers — for five-year terms. The CNDH may access facility registers and interview detainees but has no statutory subpoena power and no authority to compel personnel records; access in practice can be delayed. Findings are advisory; the CNDH refers cases to the prosecutor or ministry and publishes mandatory annual reports without executive pre-clearance. The CNDH has no direct discipline authority over police or corrections officers.
Independence Scorecard
| Appointment | Executive appointment |
|---|---|
| Term length | 5 years |
| Removal standard | For cause only |
| Budget independence | Legislative line item |
| Subpoena power | No |
| Compel testimony | No |
| Records access | Restricted |
| Public reports required | Yes |
| Pre-publication review | None — reports published directly |
Statute
- Name
- Dahir n°1-11-19 portant réorganisation du Conseil National des Droits de l'Homme
- Citation
- Dahir n°1-11-19 du 25 Safar 1432 (1er mars 2011), BO n°5922 du 17 mars 2011; OPCAT designation as NPM notified to UN SPT 2014; Constitution 2011, Art. 161
- Full text
- Full text of law →
Jurisdiction scope
All public authorities; statutory mandate as OPCAT National Preventive Mechanism to conduct unannounced visits to police custody, gendarmerie brigades, prisons (DAP), juvenile detention, psychiatric institutions, and all other places of deprivation of liberty; receives and investigates human rights complaints including by law-enforcement and corrections personnel; reports findings and recommendations to the King, Parliament, and competent authorities.